Take Care Of Your Smile This Holiday Season With Help From Our Toluca Lake Dentists

Written by Dr. McKay on Dec 20, 2016

It’s a season for celebrating, and that means that we’re all likely to be consuming more goodies and sweet treats than we normally do. This holiday season protect your smile by following some simple tips from our Toluca Lake dentists. We promise that your smile will thank you in the new year!

Obviously, the best thing that you can do to protect your smile is to minimize the number of sugary things that you consume day to day. So, try to celebrate in moderation as much as possible.

When you do indulge in cookies and the like, make sure that you’re also drinking plenty of water. It is important for you to stay hydrated so that your body can produce saliva; saliva is your body’s natural way of re-mineralizing dental enamel and strengthening your smile. Patients who suffer from dry mouth are more likely those that don’t to suffer from cavities as well as periodontal disease.

Additionally, try to get in the habit of vigorously rinsing your mouth with water after eating or drinking (anything other than water). This simple action helps to flush away dental debris, minimize the amount of time that sugar can sit on your smile, and promote saliva production.

Many people do not know that it doesn’t just matter how much sugar you consume; it also matters how you consume it. When you eat or drink, the oral bacteria in your mouth stay active and feeding on new sugars for about 20 to 30 minutes after you stop. For this reason, it is best to indulge in sugary things in short, time-specific sittings, rather than exposing your smile to sugar consistently throughout the day. The goal is to limit the amount of time that oral bacteria can feed and grow.

If you feel like your smile starts to suffer this holiday season, try to schedule a professional cleaning for the beginning of the new year. Our dental team will remove the plaque and tartar entrenched in your mouth, and give you a clean slate to maintain.

If you want to learn more about dietary decisions, including consuming sugar, affect your smile, please feel free to contact our Toluca Lake dentists. We’re here to give you all of the information you need to achieve a healthy and strong smile!